Supplier says lubricant removes the need to change cylinder lubricants when operating in and out of ECAs.

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Updated on 05 Oct 2017 10:15 GMT

Chevron Marine Lubricants has received a no objection letter (NOL) from Winterthur Gas & Diesel (WinGD) for the use of its Taro Special HT 100 cylinder lubrication oil in a number of the manufacturer's engines when operating on a wide variety of fuels - with a sulphur content ranging from zero to 3.5 percent, including fuels compliant with Emissions Control Area (ECA) regulations with maximum sulphur levels of 0.10 percent.

The NOL follows 2,000 hours of validation testing on board a Panamax containership fitted with a Wartsila 8RT-flex82T engine.

According to Chevron, Taro Special HT 100 removes the need to change cylinder lubricants when operating in and out of ECAs. It has been specifically formulated for high performance and is said to have demonstrated "enhanced performance" in distillate fuel applications under laboratory engine conditions.

The NOL applies to the use of Taro Special HT 100 in WinGD X, WinGD X-DF, WinGD RT-flex, WinGD RT-flex-DF, Wartsila RTA, Wartsila RT-flex and Wartsila X engines, as well as in Sulzer 2-stroke engines, operating on bunker fuels with a sulphur content ranging from zero to 3.5 percent.

Chia Yoo Soon, General Manager of Chevron Marine Lubricants, said: "We are delighted with the results of the testing and to receive this No Objection Letter from Winterthur Gas & Diesel. It is further evidence of how Chevron Marine Lubricants is helping ship owners and operators reliably navigate the ECA requirements of today, and is ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow as shipping moves into a lower sulphur, lower emissions future."

Konrad Rass, General Manager Combustions Systems, WinGD, commented: "As a leading developer of marine low-speed gas and diesel engines our target is to set the highest possible industry standards, a philosophy that is echoed throughout our rigorous testing regimes. After 2,000 hours of sea trials, Taro Special HT 100 has shown that it meets the exacting standards demanded by WinGD and we have no hesitation in providing this No Objection Letter as a result."

Chevron's Taro Special HT 100 is one of a full range of Taro cylinder lubricants that, from the low 25 BN Taro Special HT LF to the new 140 BN Taro Special HT Ultra, provide solutions in all operating environments.

Chevron advises that Taro Special HT 100 should always be used in line with manufacturers guidelines, and recommends that ship operators adjust feed rates and conduct drip oil analysis to maintain optimum performance.

The Taro cylinder lubricants range are offered alongside Chevron's DOT.FAST Service, which provides both onboard and onshore analysis of drip oil in order to provide a measurement of total iron wear, including corrosive wear.